A method of inhibiting an ethylene response in a field crop is disclosed, comprising the step of applying to at least one portion of at least one plant of said field crop an amount of a solution of a water soluble cyclopropyl-1-enyl-propanoic acid salt (WS-CPD, Formula I) effective to produce inhibition of an ethylene response in said at least one plant, wherein M is chosen from the group consisting of Na, Li, K, and ½Ca.